BRAINTRY, (Essex) 34 cm. 42 mm. from London, is called Rains in domes-day-book, it having been in the conqueror's time,
the see of Roger de Raines, a Norman Ld. and is noted for a great mf. of bays and says. It has a Mt. on W. and Fairs Apr.
27, Sept. 21. The former was obtained by Mr. Herman Olmius, who purchased the manor of Richard Ld. Rich, to whom it was
granted by K. Edward VI. It formerly bel. to the Bps. of London, who had a palace here, till it was alienated to the crown
by Bp. Ridley, and has been long since, demolished. This T. as well as Bocking, which joins to it, abounds with
dissentors. Among many considerable benefactors to its poor, we find Henry Smith, Esq; who is said to have been once a
beggar, and from a dog that constantly followed him, had the name of Dog-Smith; but if he was a beggar, he was a very rich
one, and exceeding bountiful to the poor; for, besides what he did in Surry, he left 2800 l. to be laid out in land, for
the relief of the poor of this and some other neighbouring ps. Here is a ch. s. and Mr. John Comins had, not long ago, a
seat here.